Pole-climber.



A. J. BATES.

POLE CLIMBER.

APPLlCATlON man Nov. 1. 1m.

1,260,856. Patented. Mar. 26, 1918.

ALBERT J. BATES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 BATES EXPANDED STEEL TRUSS 00., OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

POLE-CLIMBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

Application filed November 1, 1915. Serial No. 59,141.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pole-Climbers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pole climbers and is particularly adapted for use in climbing flanged metal poles such for example as poles made by expanding channel or I-sectiOnS.

It is the object of my invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device wherey linemen and others may safely and quickly climb poles of this character with a minimum of eflort.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, disclosing a preferred embodiment thereof, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating my invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a pair of climbers 7 according to my invention, the foot plate being removed from one of the climbers and the pole being shown in section to illustrat; the cooperation of the climbers therewit Fig. 3 is a vertical section on 3-3 of Fig. 2; and V Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a portion of a pole which is constructed by expanding a steel member having an I-section and is provided with flanges 2.

My invention comprises a member 3 to which is secured in any suitable manner a foot plate 4 having guides 5 and 6 adjacent the heel and toe, respectively, through which the straps 7 are disposed, the straps being adapted to pass about the foot of the wearer to secure the plate 4 and the member 3 thereto.

the line a As clearly indicated in Fig. 2, the member 10 is secured by means of a bolt 11 to the member 3, the member 10 being so arranged that an edge 12 thereof is adapted to engage the side of the flange 2 nearer the wearer. In a suitable opening in the inwardly extending arm 9 a member 13 is mounted and secured by means of a pin 14, the member 13 providing a point contact 15 and the point contact 15 being disposed in the medial line of the foot plate 4. As will be readily understood from the drawing the contact edge 12 and the point contact 15 are spaced vertically and horizon- .tally, the horizontal spacing being substantially equal to the thickness of the flange 2. It is to be understood that a slight differ ence in the thickness of the flange 2 will not in any way affect the operation of the device.

The mode of operation of my device should be apparent without further description thereof. A climber is secured to each of the wearers feet and positioned on the flanges 2, as indicated in Fig. 2. So long as the weight of the wearer rests on the foot plate 4 and member 3 the powerful leverage obtained will cause the contacts 12 and 15 to grip the flanges. The wearer lifts first one foot and then the other, free ing the climbers alternately from the flanges 2 and thereby is enabled to quickly and safely climb the pole. In descending the wearer performs the same operation but lowers instead of raising the feet, it being understood that whenever the weight is removed from the foot plate 4 the device is free and may be moved vertically along the flanges 2.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A climber for flanged metal poles con sisting of a foot plate, means for securing said foot plate to the foot of the wearer, a member fixedly secured to said foot plate in the medial line thereof adjacent the heel and offset from said medial line adjacent the toe, said member having an upwardly and inwardly directed end carrying a point contact in the medial line of said foot plate to engage one side of the flange and means on said member spaced from said point contact to engage the other side of the flange.

2A climber for flanged metal poles consisting of a foot plate, means for securing said foot plate to the foot of the wearer, a member fixedly secured to said foot plate in the medial line thereof adjacent the heel and ofiset from said medial line adjacent the 10 toe, said member having an upwardly and inwardly directed end carrying a point contact in the medial line of said foot plate to engage one side of the flange, and means on said member spaced from said point contact and having an edge transversely arranged With respect to said foot plate to engage the other side of the flange.

ALBERT J. BATES. Witness:

M. A. KIDDIE.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissinner of Patcnta,

Washington, D. G." 

